Best Lawyers released the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America list, which includes many legal professionals in the Region.
The 2025 list included 79,116 honorees.
“As an industry-driven professional recognition, it is the opinion of lawyers themselves that determines our awards,” said Elizabeth Petit, director of research and development and managing editor at Best Lawyers, in a press release.
Nine lawyers from South Bend-based THK Law were included on the list.
“We are honored to see so many of our attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers this year,” said THK Partner Eric Seigel, in a press release. “This acknowledgment is a testament to our team's dedication to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. We pride ourselves on our ability to address the diverse needs of our clients with care and integrity. These awards reflect the hard work and commitment of our entire firm.”
Those who made the list were voted on by their peers. More than 3.2 million evaluations determined this year's top lawyers.
For the fifth edition of Ones to Watch in America, more than 1.2 million responses were collected.
The Best Lawyers in America honorees from Northwest and North Central Indiana include:
Chesterton
- Kenneth Allen, Allen Law Group
- Bryan Bradley, Allen Law Group
- Robert Brown, Allen Law Group
- Otto Shragal, Allen Law Group
Elkhart
- Michael Fenech, Barnes & Thornburg
- Andrew Helfrich, Barnes & Thornburg
- Timothy Weaver, Barnes & Thornburg
Merrillville
- Timothy S Schafer, Schafer & Schafer
Mishawaka
- Jennifer VanderVeen, VanderVeen Elder and Special Needs Law
Schererville
- Patrick P. Devine, Hinshaw & Culbertson
- Jennifer J. Kalas, Hinshaw & Culbertson
South Bend
- Brian Casey, Barnes & Thornburg
- Timothy Curran, SouthBank Legal
- Janilyn Brouwer Daub, Barnes & Thornburg
- Robert G. “Bob” Devetski, Barnes & Thornburg
- Timothy Emerick, Barnes & Thornburg
- Philip Faccenda, Jr., Barnes & Thornburg
- Jeanine Gozdecki, Barnes & Thornburg
- Thomas Hall, THK Law
- Erin Linder Hanig, SouthBank Legal
- Michael Hays, THK Law
- Michael Knight, Barnes & Thornburg
- Tracy Knox, Barnes & Thornburg
- John D. LaDue, SouthBank Legal
- Greta Roemer Lewis, THK Law
- James Lewis, THK Law
- Teresa Maginn, Barnes & Thornburg
- Timothy Maher, Barnes & Thornburg
- Richard W. Morgan, Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak
- Edward L. “Ed” Murphy Jr., Foley & Murphy
- Michael Palmer, Barnes & Thornburg
- Randolph Rompola, Barnes & Thornburg
- Jason Schultz, Barnes & Thornburg
- Eric W. Seigel, THK Law
- Laura D. Seng, Barnes & Thornburg
- John C. Smarrella, Barnes & Thornburg
- Jeffrey J. Stesiak, Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak
- James W. “Jim” Tuesley, Barnes & Thornburg
- Malcolm J. “Mick” Tuesley, THK Law
- Eric W. von Deck, THK Law
Lawyers from the Ones to Watch list:
- Kahlyn N. Ashcraft, THK Law
- Sarah E. Brown, Barnes & Thornburg
- Justin Dance, Barnes & Thornburg
- Chisara Ezie-Boncoeur, Barnes & Thornburg
- Alexander T. “Alex” Gordon, Barnes & Thornburg
- Elizabeth A. Klesmith, THK Law
- Amber Neal, Barnes & Thornburg
- Benjamin Perry, Barnes & Thornburg
- Christopher Rubey, Barnes & Thornburg
Casey also is on the Ones to Watch list.
Daub was named Lawyer of the Year in employment law – management. Devetski was named Lawyer of the Year for insurance law. Emerick was named Layer of the Year for corporate law. Palmer was named Lawyer of the Year for litigation – labor and employment.
Best Lawyers was founded in 1981. Find the full list of winners here.
